General Information

Vacation Caches

Can I hide a cache while on vacation?

It’s not recommended

We recommend that you do not hide a geocache while traveling. Vacation/holiday caches are usually not published.

Geocache owners must visit their caches to maintain them. Log books fill up, cache contents get wet, or the cache can disappear. If you live far away from your cache, timely maintenance is impossible. It’s best to place physical caches in your usual caching area.

Caches need to be maintained, and that may be hard to do if the cache owner lives far away. If the cache disappears, gets wet or damaged, needs a new logbook, etc.... the cache owner needs to fix the problem in a timely manner.  

Before vacation caches can be listed on the website, the reviewer needs to know how the cache(s) will be properly maintained.  Be sure to document a maintenance plan in a Note to REVIEWER and include the maintainer's geocaching username on your CACHE PAGE DESCRIPTION

At a minimum, in a note to the reviewer, include the following;

1. Local maintainer's geocaching username

2. Geocacher's contact information

3. Written consent
   
   

Physical caches placed on islands the cache owner can visit only by ferry or plane from the mainland requires a maintenance plan.

Maintenance plan

If you do place a geocache while traveling, you must have a maintenance plan. For example, a local geocacher agrees to maintain the cache in your absence. When you submit your cache, document your plan in a Reviewer Note. Include the local geocacher’s username, contact information, and written consent. Information in Reviewer Notes will auto-archive on publication and will not be available to other players.

Agenda

Cache pages perceived to promote an agenda or highlight a cause will not be published. Geocaching is a fun, family-friendly game, not a platform for promoting a cause. In geocaching, an agenda is content that highlights a cause, promotes a cache owner's personal opinion or hidden intention. Also, cache pages cannot require or encourage players to place more caches.

In short, a cache page cannot:

• tells geocachers how to think or feel

• ask geocachers to do something

• raise awareness of a cause

• requires or encourages finders to place caches

Restricted Areas

This listing is not all-inclusive as some land managers may have instituted policies we are not yet aware of or may have amended their posted policies. If you have additional information, please send an email with your contact information to a local reviewer.

Airports

Geocache listings with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) will not published near or at Airports.  Generally - should some one seeking a cache be visible from the Airport is considered to be "too close".

Apartment Buildings/Complexes 

Geocache listings with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) will not published near or on apartment building property.  

Bathroom/Bathhouse Structures

Geocache containers and waypoints/stages (physical or virtual) not allowed within 20 meters of a bathroom or bathhouse.

Churches & Temples

Written permission is required for caches placed within the church or temple property or boundary (the boundary includes any wall, gates, statues, parking area, bushes, or fence) before caches can be placed.  Permission is also needed for waypoints (physical or virtual) of locations within the church or temple boundary.

Playground Equipment

Playground equipment is off limits. Coordinates (physical or virtual) must be at least 25 meters +/- from all equipment.

School (K-12) Grounds and Proximity

We will not publish caches with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) that are on or adjacent to school grounds or school property without express written permission on file from that school administrator. A statement of permission must be placed on the cache page, along with any restrictions for that location.  Generally - should some one seeking a cache or attending an event be visible from the school, parking areas, and/or playing fields - We consider the location to be "too close".

Universities and Colleges

Generally geocaching is allowed on University and College campuses where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) are not allowed to be placed near or on student housing property.